UK fashion takes to Chinese stage

Eastern promise: (from left) China-Britain Business Council chairman Sir David Brewer, the BFC's Harold Tillman and Xu Jing of the Beijing International Brand Management Centre

A NEW initiative to showcase British fashion houses in China was launched today. It is a joint project between the British Fashion Council, which promotes local design talent, the Beijing International Brand Management Centre and the China-Britain Business Council.

Harold Tillman, the BFC chairman who negotiated the deal, said: "There are opportunities all over the world for us but no more so than in China. The Chinese love design and fortunately they love British fashion design."

British fashion houses including Burberry and Mulberry are already expanding in the country, and West End stores have been hiring Mandarin speakers to attract the "Peking Pound". About 30% of customers in Burberry's London shops come from the Asian nation.